Yakima Valley Braves

Yakima Valley Braves
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1952-1964)
  • Class B (1937-1951)
LeagueNorthwest League (1955-1966)
Previous leagues
Western International League (1937-1941, 1946-1954)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (7)
  • 1950
  • 1956
  • 1958
  • 1959
  • 1960
  • 1963
  • 1964
Team data
Previous names
  • Yakima Bears (1949-1964)
  • Yakima Packers (1948)
  • Yakima Stars (1946-1947)
  • Yakima Pippins (1937-1941)
Previous parks
Parker Field

The Yakima Valley Braves, was the final name of a minor league baseball club, located in Yakima, Washington, playing from 1955 to 1966 as members of the Northwest League. Yakima hosted professional baseball regularly from 1937 through 1965 with a brief hiatus between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II. Playing under various names, Yakima was a member of the Western International League.[1][2]

History

Prior to the Western International League franchise, the Yakima Indians played in the Class B Pacific Coast International League in 1920 and 1921, winning a championship in its final season.[1][3]

The Pippins were the club to represent Yakima, starting in 1937.[4] The franchise used the Pippins name through 1941 when the club suspended operations. Likewise, the Western International League suspended play after the 1942 season. The Pippins name was resurrected in by the Yakima Valley Pippins of the collegiate wood bat West Coast League.

The League resumed play in 1946 with Yakima returning to the field under a new name, the Stars. The Stars were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.[5] In 1948 the club changed names again to the Yakima Packers. The Packers finished the season in last place.[1]

In 1949 the club adopted a new moniker, the Yakima Bears. In their first season the Bears advanced to the post-season. The Bears defeated the Spokane Indians in the semi-final series, but were swept by the Vancouver Capilanos in the championship. The following season the Bears posted a record on 92–58 to claim the league championship. In 1956 won their second league title, finishing the year at 86–45.

The team's home field, Parker Field, was built in 1937. It caught fire in 1962 but was rebuilt. The team remained in Yakima through 1966.[6][7][8][9]

Professional baseball returned to Yakima in 1990. The Northwest League franchise revived Yakima Bears playing as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks until 2012.[10][11]

Season-by-season record

Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Yakima Pippins
1937 1st 80 61 .567 Ray Jacobs 54,000
1938 1st 77 55 .583 Defeated Wenatchee in semi-final series 3-1
Lost to Bellingham in championship series 4-3 		Ray Jacobs No record
1939 5th 72 73 .497 Ray Jacobs No record
1940 2nd 79 67 .541 Lost to in semi-final series to Tacoma 2-1 Goldie Holt No record
1941 3rd 70 64 .522 Goldie Holt No record
Yakima Stars
1946 PIT 5th 71 69 .507 Spencer Harris No record
1947 8th 59 95 .383 Harlond Clift 86,004
Yakima Packers
1948 8th 52 109 .323 Hub Kittle 73,600
Yakima Bears
1949 1st 99 51 .660 Defeated Spokane in semi-final series 3-1
Lost to Vancouver in championship series 3-0 		Joe Orengo 133,917
1950 1st 92 58 .613 League champion by virtue of record Joe Orengo 117,790
1951 5th 63 80 .441 Bill Brenner 60,018
1952 4th 73 79 .480 Dario Lodigiani 64,044
1953 6th 70 74 .486 Dario Lodigiani 59,100
1954 1st 80 57 .584 Lou Stringer 66,571
1955 5th 59 69 .461 Hub Kittle 36,314
1956 1st 86 45 .656 League champion by virtue of record Hub Kittle 66,370
1957 3rd 69 66 .511 Hub Kittle 56,718
1958 MLN 2nd 76 60 .559 Defeated Lewiston in championship series 4-1 Hub Kittle 64,974
1959 MLN 4th 70 69 .504 Defeated Salem in championship series 4-1 Hub Kittle 43,895
1960 MLN 1st 85 57 .599 League champion by virtue of record Buddy Hicks 60,166
1961 MLN 2nd 79 60 .568 Lost to Lewiston in championship series 4-1 Buddy Hicks 42,806
1962 MLN 4th 69 71 .493 Buddy Hicks 35,059
1963 MLN 1st 84 56 .600 Defeated Lewiston in championship series 3-1 Buddy Hicks 40,628
1964 MLN 3rd 72 68 .514 Defeated Eugene in championship series 3-0 Hub Kittle 39,300
Yakima Valley Braves
1965 MLN 5th 62 77 .446 Hub Kittle 36,050
1966 MLN 3rd 39 44 .470 Eddie Haas 13,262
Division winner League champions

Source[1]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Yakima, Washington Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "Pennant progress: Western International". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 8, 1954. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  3. ^ King, Chris (January 15, 2020). "Exploring Baseball History of WCL North Cities".
  4. ^ "Tacoma trims Yakima Pippins". Evening Record. Ellensburg, Washington. Associated Press. August 28, 1937. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Yakima Stars to move by air". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. May 7, 1946. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Baseball seen dead for Yakima Braves". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. September 14, 1966. p. 40.
  7. ^ "Deed return is asked of Yakima". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. May 25, 1960. p. 12.
  8. ^ "Fire destroys ball park". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. UPI. March 13, 1962. p. 2B.
  9. ^ Harvey, Paul III (August 12, 1965). "Bus, park burn but Yakima in black". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 2D.
  10. ^ Rodman, Bob (November 24, 1989). "Dodger franchise looks to Yakima". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 2B.
  11. ^ "Sports people". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. staff and wire reports. January 16, 1990. p. C2.
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